BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of peripheral vertigo. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Semont maneuver (SM) for BPPV treatment, compared with other methods. METHODS: Studies were selected in relevant databases under pre-defined criteria up to June 2015. The Cochrane evaluation system was used to assess the quality of the studies. Effect size was indicated as a risk-ratio (RR) with corresponding 95% confidential interval (CI). Statistical analysis was conducted under a randomized- or fixed-effects model. Sub-group analysis was performed. RESULTS: Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. All of the studies presented a low attrition bias, but a high selection and reporting bias. SM had a much higher recovery rate (SM versus no treatment RR 2.60, 95% CI 1.97 to 3.44, p < 0.01; SM versus sham RR 4.89, 95% CI 3.01 to 7.94, p < 0.01), and lower recurrence rate than those from controls (SM versus no treatment RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.31, p < 0.01). Overall, SM had similar outcomes with Epley maneuver (EM) and Brandt-Daroff exercise (BDE) in terms of recovery rate, recurrence rate, and side-effects. CONCLUSION: SM is as effective as EM and BDE for BPPV treatment.

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